Tripping mechanism for scoops



G. B. SCOTT TRIPPING MECHANISM FOR SCOOPS June 18, 1929.

Filed Aug. 2, 1926 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W e-mm: 60v 5. ,Srarr June 18, 1929. e. B. scoTT TRIPPING MECHANISM FOR SCOOPS Filed Aug. 2, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y K e r W a r Z i W -v Q WM 0 6 V Raw 5 3 k. .W .b mm \w m "W Kw Patented June 18, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUY B. SCOTT, OF FRISCO, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ON E-HALF TO ELMER FRESHWATER, OF PAINESVILLE, OHIO.

TRIPPING MECHANISM FOR SCOOPS.

Application filed August 2, 1926. Serial No. 126,595.

My invention relates to tripping mechanism and particularly to mechanism of this character adapted for use with power excavators. The invention is utilized for tripping the latch controlling the discharge door ofthe excavator scoop. The object of the invention is to provide simple and conveniently-actuated mechanism of this character by which the door latch of the scoop may be e controlled by the operator of the excavating machine, without the necessity of employing an additional man for performing this duty. Distinguishing the particular means for effecting this function from those shown, de scribed and claimed in my application for U. S. Letters Patent, Serial No. 29,317, U. S.

. Patent No. 1,594,566, I utilize electrically operated means for tripping the scoop-door latch, the particular means shown in said patent being mechanically operated, the means of this application, similarlyto those of the patent, for controlling the latch tripping members being connected to the main actuating lever for the scoop-actuating mechanism so that such trip controlling means are a part of a unitary device includ ing such main actuating lever. It is intended that the trip controlling means shall be actuated by the same hand of the operator as actuates the main lever. The trip lever may be locked to the main lever so as to move therewith, or may have a selective limited movement independentof the main lever. In the former event, the movement of the main lever and the trip lever have no effect upon the scoop latch-control means.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain means embodying my invention, such means constituting, however, but two of the various forms in which the principle of the invention may be applied.

In said annexed drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a conventional type of scoop excavator provided with one form of my improved electrically-operated tripping mechanism, the

figure particularly showing the application of the tripping mechanism to a scoop of the so-called skimmer type, in which the scoop, in digging or filling, moves away from ,the excavator body;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view, taken from the plane indicated by the line II-II Figure 1, this view showing a motor for dis of a conventional type of scoopexcavator provided with the second form of my improved electrically-operated tripping mechanism, the scoop shown. in this view being of the socalled 'ditcher type, having a drop bottom and being adapted to be pulled toward the excavator body whenbeing filled;

F'gure 5- a diagrammatic view of the including the trip-actuating means and Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical cross-section, taken in the VI-VI, Figure 1. a 7

Referring to the annexed drawings, in the several views of which the different elements are respectively designated by the same ordinals, I suggest one standard form ofpower scoop-excavating machine by'a platform 5, Figure 1, a swinging boom 6 which is supported at one end by means of a horizontal pin upon a boom support 64 pivotally mounted by means of vertical king-pins (not shown) upon forwardly projecting shoulder journals 63 secured to the platform 5, a scoop 7 depending from the boom 6 and adapted to be moved upon a trolley longitudinally of the boom 6 by means of power devices (wellknown) actuated by standard control levers mounted upon the platform 5, said scoop 7 having a discharge door 30 controlled by a swinging latch 8. Mounted upon the platform 5 is a supporting frame 9 within the upper end of which is mounted a stationary transverse shaft 10 upon which is carried a freely-rotatable cable drum 11. One end of the cable "drum 11 is formed into a housing extension 12, plainly shown in Figure 6, and securedaat one end to the stationary shaft 10, andsecured at its other end to the inside face of the housing 12, is a coiled spring 13 of a construction similar to that shown described and claimed in the pending application of Charles WV. Krepps, Serial No. 60,379.

Connected at one end to the cable drum 11 is an insulated cable 39 which extends forwardly through a pulley block 60 and passes wir ng arrangement of the electric circuit,

plane indicated by the line I at'its opposite end to a motor supported its other end upon the drum 18. The main operating lever 41 of the excavator is formed with a 'contact22 adapted to co-operate with y a contact 21 secured to a trip lever 46 pivotally mounted upon the main lever 41 and normally held in the open position shown inFigure 3 by means of the spring 42 connected to one end 46 of the trip lever 46, and at its other end to the main lever 41. The contact 22 is one terminal of an insulated cable 23 which passes to a battery or other suitable source of power and thence to a terminal 23 mounted upon the supporting frame 9. Another terminal 23 is mounted upon the supporting frame 9, these two terminals co-operating with collector rings 25 formed on the drum 11, thus providing for the completion of the circuit in any position of the drum 11. V V

'I'utilize the standard scoop-control lever 41 forming part of the standard excavator mechanism in the operation of my improved tripping device. This lever 41 is reorganized in the following particulars. I replace the pin upon which the usual detent 26 is ordinarily pivote'd,with a'longer pin 54. As Well known, one type of standard sc0op-control lever 41 is provided with a spring-controlled arm 48 connected at its lower end to one end of a centrally pivoted link 55 whose upper end is connected to the other end of the detent 26 adapted to engage at its lower end with the notched segment 27. The trip lever 46 is pivoted intermediate its'ends upon the pin 54 and is normally held in the position shown in Figure 3. It is evident that a fin er or two of the same hand of theoperator t at is usedfor actuating the main excavator lever 4-l--will serve to pull the finger trip 46 in toward the handle portion 50 of the lever 41 so as to cause the contacts 21 and 22 to engage, thus closing the circuit. 'iVhen this happens, the motor 15 is started'an'd thus winds the cable 19 upon the drum member ,18, swingin the latch'S upon its pivoted end to re- 7 lease the scoop door 30, and permit the scoop 7 to be discharged of its load. The Winding of the cable 39 upon the drum 11, under the influence of thespring 13 permitsthe' slack scoop 7 moves outwardly away from the plat-form 5 in its digging and filling operation.

The conduit 24 hereinbefore mentioned, surrounds the lever 41 and moves with the same and carries the wires 23 and 28 and is connected at the bottom by means of a swivel connection 34 with two other tubular conduit members 48 and 49 carrying the wires 23 and 28, respectively, one to the battery and the other to tl e terminal 23 as also the wire 23 passing directly from the battery to the terminal 23, I

It is evident from the aforegoing description that when the scoop"? is filled and it is desired to move the latch 8, the trip 46 can be moved to close the circuit, whatever the position of the motor 15, due to the takeup provided by the drum 11, and the actuation of the motor, will windthe cable 19 upon the drum 18 to release the scoop door 30.

In the form of device shown in Figures 4 and 5, the application of an electrically controlled trip to a scoop 7 of the type known as i a drop bottom ditcher'is shown, wherein the scoop door latch-releasing motor 47 is mounted upon the scoop-actuating arm68 pivotally secured to the swinging boom 6. I In this form of device, the I wiring diagram is plainly shown in Figure 5, and it will be noted that the conduit- 48 is subdivided by a flexible joint 49' and extends up along the swinging boom 6 to providea housing for the wires 36'and 37 leading to the motor 47. Further flexibility is provided by means of an end conduit portion 42 extending from the conduit 48 to the motor 47, In this form of device the latchreleasing cable 24 passes over a pulley 31 secured to the scoop-supporting arm 68 and is securedat its outer end to one end of the slid'ing latch 35 adapted to control the drop door 29 which normally closes the bottom of the ditcher scoop 7'.

In both the forms of device shown in Figures 1 and 4, the doors 30 and 2 9 are'closed by the usual manipulation of the operator, after the scoop contents have been discharged, this feature of the action being standard and forming no part of my improvement.

IVhat I claim is:

' 1. New and improved latch tripping means for use in excavator mechanisms having a scoop and a scoop-door retaining latch, comprising a main actuating lever provided with a manually-operable member having a'selective movement independent of said lever, a pair of electrical contacts secured, respectively, to said lever and to said manually-operable member, means forming an electric circuit including a motor and said contact-s, means normally holding said contacts apart, and a cable connectionsecured to the door latch and adapted to be actuated by said motor.

2. Tripping mechanisms for excavator scoops comprising, in combination with the excavator and scoop and operating means therefor including a main actuating lever, a

scoop-door retaining latch, a motor mounted upon the excavator boom and formed with an extended shaft, a drum mounted upon and se cured to said extended shaft, a flexible connection secured at one end to said latch and wound at the other end upon said drum, a trip lever pivotally mounted upon said main actuating lever a pair of electrical contacts secured, respectively, to said main actuating lever and said trip lever, means fornr 10 ing an electriccircuit including said motor and said pair of contacts, and means holding said circuit normally open, said triplever being disposed adjacent the actuating handle portion of said main lever. a 1

Signed by me this 31st day of August, 1926.

GUY B. SCOTT. 

